Kolkata : Bengal Governor RN Ravi has dissolved the assembly, officially putting an end to the Trinamool Congress government in the eastern state. The governor used the constitutional powers vested in him under Article 174 (2)(b) of the Constitution of India. “I hereby dissolve the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal with effect from 7th May, 2026,” RN Ravi said in the official notice.
The Bengal government’s term ended yesterday. Now, until the new Chief Minister is sworn in, the governor is supposed to take interim charge of the state, former Government of India Secretary, Jawhar Sircar said. The state has been rife with drama and controversies since the poll results were announced. The Trinamool Congress claimed that votes were looted in 100 seats across the state where their candidates were leading from the beginning of the counting.
Hundreds of central forces were deployed in the state to ensure peaceful polling. Even so, post-poll violence broke out in several regions of the state. More than five people have been killed so far, including BJP CM frontrunner Suvendu Adhikari’s aide Chandranath Rath, who was shot dead in point-blank range in Madhyamgram.
The Article 174, Clause 2 of the Constitution deals with the governor’s powers over the state legislature. It states, “The governor may from time to time — (a) prorogue the House or either House; (b) dissolve the legislative assembly.” In simple language, the Article grants the governor two vital powers: sub-clause (a) prorogation and sub-clause (b) dissolution.
In an earlier report, experts had shared insights with India Today on why it is unconstitutional for Banerjee to remain in the CM’s chair despite losing the polls. All of them had echoed that if she didn’t resign, then the Bengal governor would be forced to dismiss the state assembly as the constitutional provision says a government cannot continue after five years.
Read Also : DMK After Congress Dumps Alliance; Ties Up With Vijay’s TVK, Read In Details